Moistening means for duplicating machines



y 1940. R. F. MORRISON 2,207,932

MOISTENING MEANS FOR DUPLICATING MACHINES Filed May 24, 1957 4Shets-Sheet 1 -July.16, 1940- R. F. MORRISON MOISTENING MEANS FORDUPLICATING MACHINES 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed May 24, 1937 July 16, 1940.R. F. MORRISON MOISTENING MEANS FOR DUPLICATING MACHINES Filed May 24,1937 4 Sheets- Sheet 5 y 19400 R. F. MORRISON MOISTENING MEANS FORDUPLICATING MACHINES Filed May 24, 1937 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Patented July16, 1940 UNITED STATES MOISTENING. MEANS FOR DUPLICATIN G MACHINESRobert F. Morrison, Oak Park, 111., assignor to Ditto, Incorporated,Chicago, 111., a corporation of West Virginia Application May 24, 1987,Serial No. 144,430

11 Claims.

The invention relates to moistening means for duplicating machines andis particularly adapted to be embodied in a duplicating machine of thetype wherein master sheets of paper are mounted upon a printing orduplicating drum and data written or typewritten upon the master sheetsis duplicated on copy sheets which are moistened with a solvent for theink on the master sheet, the moistened surfaces of the copy sheets being10 brought into contact with the master sheet.

The improved moistening means preferably comprises feed rollers whichfeed the copy sheets to the duplicating drum. Solvent is supplied to oneof the feed rollers and it moistens the copy 15 sheets with the solventas it co-operates with the other roller to advance the copy sheets tothe duplicating drum. The moistening roller is preferably substantiallynon-absorbent but the cooperating roller is preferably absorbent so thata 20 quantity of solvent will not collect at the bight of the rollers.In the preferred form of the invention, the absorbent roller has anouter covering of felt impregnated with latex, which covering absorbsexcess moisture at the bight between 25 the rollers.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will presently appear,reference being had to the following description, wherein-- Fig. 1 is afragmentary longitudinal vertical 30 section taken through a duplicatingmachine provided with moistening means which embodies the invention.

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary section taken on line 22 of Fig. 1.

35 Fig. 3 is an enlarged section taken on line 3-3 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary elevation, partly in section, of feeding rollerswhich embody another form of the invention.

40 Fig. 5 is a section taken on line 55 of Fig. 4.

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary elevation, partly in section, of feeding rollerswhich embody another form of the invention.

Fig. 7 is a section taken on line l---'! of Fig. 6.

45 Fig. 8 is a fragmentary elevation, partly in section, of feed rollerswhich embody another form of the invention.

Fig. 9 is a section taken on line 99 of Fig. 8.

50 Fig. 10 is a fragmentary elevation, partly in section, of feedrollers which embody another form of the invention.

Fig. 11 is a section taken on line ll--I| of Fig. 10.

. Fig-12 is a fragmentary elevation, partly in section, of a feed rollerwhich embodies another form of the invention.

Fig. 13 is a fragmentary elevation, partly in section, of a feed rollerwhich embodies still another form of the invention, and 5 Fig. 14 is afragmentary elevation, partly in section, of a feed roller whichembodies still another form of the invention.

Referring for the present to Figs. 1 to 3, inclusive, which embody apreferred form of the 10 invention, the reference character 20designates the frame of a duplicating machine of a well known type.Journaled on a shaft 2| mounted in the frame 20 is'a duplicating drum 22provided with means (not shown) whereby a sheet of paper may be clampedto the drum. Disposed beneath and in engagement with the cylindricalsurface of the drum 22 is a platen roller 23 mounted on a shaft 24journaled in ball bearings 25 which are carried by levers 36a pivotedupon pins 37a projecting from the frame 20.

Briefly, the functions of the duplicating drum 22 and the platen roller23 are this: A master sheet is first obtained by typing or writing upona sheet of paper with a carbon sheet contacting the back surfacethereof. The typing or writing appears in reverse on the back side ofthe sheet. This sheet, called the master sheet, is then clamped to theduplicating drum which is then rotated. The copies are obtained byadvancing copy sheets between the drum'22 and the platen roller 23 sothat each copy sheet is brought into contact with the data on the mastersheet. The copy sheets are moistened, preferably, on one side with asolvent for the ink or carbon on the master sheet before they arebrought into contact with the master sheet. As is well known to thoseskilled in the art, a relatively large number of copies may be made bypracticing this method.

The means for feeding the copy sheets to the 40 duplicating drum 22 andthe platen roller 23 preferably comprises co-operating feeding andmoistening rollers 30 and 3| disposed in the frame 20 so that when theyare rotated in the proper directions they will advance the copy sheetsbetween them to the bight of the duplicating drum 22 and the platenroller 23. The roller 30 is adapted to apply the solvent to the copysheets, the solvent being supplied preferably to the roller 30 by astrip of felt 34, or the equivalent, which contacts the cylindricalsurface of the roller 30. The strip of felt 34 is secured to a container35 to which solvent is delivered through a tube 36, the solvent beingobtained from a reservoir or receptacle 3'1 and fed to the tube 36 byany suitable means (not shown). Projecting from the container is a stripof felt 38 which contacts the strip 34, the construction being such thatthe solvent in the container 35 passes through the strip 88 into thestrip 34 and is appliedby the strip 34 to the roller 38.

The roller 38 is preferably mounted on a shaft 48 journaled in the frame28 (Fig. 2). The roller 38 is preferably formed of a plastic materialcomprising resinated rubber and fillers which act as colloidal agents inthe rubber. This composition is sold under the trade name of Roulene.However, the details of the material from which the roller 38 is formeddo not form a part of this invention. As stated above, the roller 38preferably comprises non-absorbent material and has a smooth, relativelyhard outer surface.

The roller 3| is mounted upon a shaft 4| which has its ends journaled insleeves 43 removably mounted in the free ends of levers 44 which arepivoted to the frame 28 by pins 45. Pivoted to the free ends of thelevers 44 are links 41 and 48 which are provided with slots 49 at theirlower ends. Pins 58 projecting from the frame 28 ride in the slots 49,the construction being such that the levers 44 may be displacedangularly in a clockwise direction (Fig. 1) against the action of aspring 52 which has one end secured to a pin 53 projecting from theframe 28 and has its other end secured to one of a plurality of teeth 55of a plate 58 secured to the lower end of the link 48. Obviously, thespring 52 urges the roller 3| into engagement with the roller 38. Thepressure exerted by the roller 3| upon the roller 38 may be varied byhooking the lower end of the spring 52 to a selected one of the teeth55. It will be understood that the free ends of the levers 44 may belowered against the action of the spring 52 so that the roller 3|, theshaft 4| and the sleeves 43 may be lifted from the free ends of thelevers if it is desired to clean or replace the roller 3|. Means isprovided for lowering the free ends of the levers 44. This meanspreferably comprises a pin 44a projecting from a shaft 44b journaled inthe frame 28. The shaft 441; may be displaced angularly in a clockwisedirection (Fig. 1) to have the pin 44a engage a pin 44c projecting fromthe link 48. The displacement of the shaft 44b may be continued untilthe pin 44a has lowered the pin 44c and the link 48 a suflicientdistance to permit removal of the roller 3|.

The roller 3| preferably comprises a cylindrical center or roller 68formed from solid resilient rubber, the center 88 being provided with acovering 6| on its cylindrical surface. The covering 8| preferablycomprises felt impregnated with latex, the latex being impregnated withone of the preservatives usually employed for this purpose. The felt isimpregnated preferably with the latex by dipping it into the latex andalternately compressing and releasing it while it is in the latex, orthe latex may be brushed or sprayed on the felt. The strip of felt isthen permitted to dry, whereupon the latex dries in such manner that ithas a large number of relatively minute pores or openings in it. The dryfelt impregnated with latex is then secured to the center 68. However,in some instances, it may be desirable to impregnate the felt after ithas been applied to the center 68 or to apply the impregnated felt tothe center 68 before it has dried. In practice, it has been found thatthe covering 6| will absorb quickly and efficiently any solvent whichtends to collect between the rollers 38 and 3|. This prevents relativelylarge quantities from being deposited from time to time on the leadingends of copy sheets being advanced between the rollers 38 and 3|.

Secured to the drum 22 at one end thereof is a gear I8 which meshes witha pinion l| journaled by a pin 12 projecting from the frame 28. The

pinion 1| meshes with a pinion 13 with which the shaft 48 is constrainedto rotate. Obviously. when the drum 22 is rotated in a counter-clockwisedirection (Fig. 1), the roller 38 will rotate in a counter-clockwisedirection and will cause the roller 3| to rotate in a clockwisedirection to advance copy sheets from a table 15 to the duplicating drum22 and the pressure or platen roller 23. The table 25 is mounted inthe'frame 28.

The operation of the above described apparatus is substantially asfollows: After a master sheet sure or platen roller 23 to press the copysheet against the master sheet. As the copy sheets pass between therollers 38 and 3l, their upper surfaces are provided with a film ofsolvent, as described above, and when this solvent contacts the data onthe master sheet, the ink or carbon willv be dissolved sufliciently toduplicate the data on the copy sheets.

In the preferred form of the invention, the center or core 88 ispreferably ground to have a substantially perfect cylindrical surface.Then after the cover 8| has been applied thereto, the roller is groundagain so that its outer cylindrical surface will be substantiallyperfect and concentrio with the axis of rotation of the shaft 4|. It mayalso be mentioned that the outer cylindrical surface of the roller 38 isalso preferably ground so that it is concentric with the axis ofrotation of the shaft 48.

Referring now to Figs. 4 and 5 wherein another embodiment of theinvention is illustrated, reference characters 38a and 3|a designaterollers which may be substituted for the rollers 38 and 3|,respectively, described above.

The roller 38a is preferably identical in construction with the roller38. The roller 3|a is mounted upon a shaft Ma and comprises a center orcore 68a formed of resilient rubber. The cylindrical surface of the core68a is provided with a plurality of .annular grooves I88 and isprovided'with a covering 6|a which is preferably formed 'by mixingsponge rubber with small pieces of cork, the mixture being rolled intosheets before it is applied to the core 88a. The covering or coating 8|ais sufficiently porous to enable it to absorb solvent collecting betweenthe rollers 38a and 3|a. It is understood, of course, that the rollers38a and 3|a have the same functions as the rollers 38 and 3|,respectively, and the cylindrical surfaces thereof are also preferablyground so as to have them concentric with the axes of rotation of theirrespective shafts. The shaft for the roller 38a is shown at 48a.

The grooves I88 assist the covering Gla to prevent the accumulation ofsolvent between the rollers 38a and 3|a as the covering Gla may becomerelatively saturated and a portion of the solvent may evaporate into thegrooves 88.

The cover Gla is relatively absorbent and will prevent a largeaccumulation ofsolvent at the bight of the rollers 30a and tla.

In Figs. 6 and '7 another form of the invention is illustrated. Feedingrollers 30b and 3"; may be substituted for the rollers 30 and 3|,respectively, described above and are mounted on shafts 40b and Mb,respectively, which may be utilized instead of the shafts 40 and M,respectively. The roller 30b is preferably identical with the roller 30described above. The roller 3|b preferably comprises a core 601) formedof ceramic material, the outer cylindrical surface of the core beingpreferably ground so that it will be concentric with the axis ofrotation of the shaft Mb. The covering Glb is mounted on the cylindricalsurface of the core 601) and is preferably made of the same material asthe covering 6| described above so that it will absorb solventcollecting between the rollers 30b and 3|b. The outer surface of thecovering 6|b is preferably ground so that it will be concentric with theaxis of rotation of the shaft Mb. It will be notedthat the felt covering6| b is in the form of a. sleeve and that the ends of the covering arebrought down over the ends of the core 60b and clamped to the shaft Mbby rings llll. Only one end of the shaft Mb is shown but it will beunderstood readily that the same construction is employed on both endsfor securing the covering 6|b to the shaft.

Still another form of the invention is illustrated in Figs. 8 and 9wherein the reference characters 30c and 3|c designate rollers which maybe substituted for the rollers 30 and 3|, respectively. The rollers 30cand Mo are mounted on shafts 40c and Mc, respectively, which may replacethe shafts 40 and M, respectively. The roller 300 is preferablyidentical in construction with the roller 30 described above. The roller3|c comprises a tubular core 600 mounted on the shaft Mc, the core 600being preferably formed of resilient rubber. The core 600 is providedwith a plurality of annular grooves I which have the same function asthe annular grooves I00 described above. The outer cylindrical surfaceof the core 500 is preferably ground to have it concentric with the axisof rotation of the shaft Me. The core 600 is provided with a covering6|c which is preferably made from the same material as the covering 6|described in connection with Figures 1 to 3, inclusive. This material isfelt treated with latex as described above. The rollers 30c and 3|c willcooperate to advance copy sheets to the duplicating drum 22 and thepressure or platen roller 23.

A further form of the invention is shown in Figs. 10 and 11 wherein thereference characters 30d and 3| d designate rollers which may besubstituted for the rollers 30 and 3|, respectively, the roller 30dbeing preferably identical in construction with the roller 30 describedabove and being mounted on a shaft 40d which corresponds to the shaft 40described above. The roller 3| d is mounted on a shaft Md adapted to besubstituted for the shaft M. The roller 3|d comprises a tubular core 60dmounted on the shaft Md and preferably formed of resilient rubber. Theouter cylindrical surface of thecore 60d is provided with grooves orslots I06 extending longitudinally of the core. The outer cylindricalsurface of the core 60d is preferably ground to have it concentric withthe axis of rotation of the shaft Md. Displaced around the core 60d is acovering 6|d of felt impregnated with latex, the covering of thematerial Gld being preferably the same as that of the covering 6|described in connection with Figs. 1 to 3, inclusive. The function ofthe grooves or slots I06 is the same as that of the grooves I00.

In Fig. 12, the reference character 3|e designates a roller which may besubstituted for the roller 3| described above, the roller 3|e beingmounted on a shaft Me corresponding to the shaft M. The roller 3|ecomprises a core 60a of resilient rubber mounted upon the shaft Me. Theouter cylindrical surface ofthe core Bile is provided with a groove I01extending helically around the core. The outer surface of the core We ispreferably ground to have it concentric with the axis of rotation of theshaft Me. The core 60c is provided with a covering file which ispreferably identical with the covering 6| described in connection withFigs. 1 to 3, inclusive.

Fig. 13 discloses another form of the invention. A roller 3| is mountedupon a shaft 4 I, and may be substituted for the roller 3| describedabove. The roller 3|f comprises a core 60f mounted on the shaft M f andpreferably formed of resilient rubber. The outer cylindrical surface ofthe core 60} is provided with a plurality of annular grooves |||I whichare filled with absorbent material I09 such as felt or fabric. The outercylindrical surface of the core SM is preferably ground to have itconcentric with the axis of rotation of the shaft M). A cover tidisposed around the core 60 is preferably formed of felt treated withlatex in the manner described in connection with the covering or sleeve6| shown in Figs. 1 to 3, inclusive. The absorbent material N99 isadapted to absorb solvent from the covering 6.

Fig. 14 shows a roller tlg which may be substituted for the roller 3|,described above, and is mounted on a shaft My corresponding to the shaftM. The roller my comprises collars secured to the shaft filly by setscrews H2. As only one end of the shaft Mg is shown, only one of thecollars iii appears in the drawings. Interposed between the collars illand disposed around the shaft M g are a plurality of discs it which arepreferably formed from resilient rubber, the discs I I3 being spacedfrom each other by intermediate discs BM of some material such as feltor fabric that will absorb the solvent. It will be noted that the endsurfaces of the discs H3 and I are not at right angles to the axis ofrotation of the shaft Mg. Disposed around the discs 3 and i it and thecollars H2 is a tubular covering Big which is preferably identical withthe covering 6| described above in connection with Figs. 1 to 3,inclusive. The collars iii and the discs 3 and l M co-operate to form acore 60g which corresponds to the core 60 of the roller 3|. Preferably,the outer cylindrical surface of the core My is ground to have itconcentric with the axis of rotation of the shaft Mg and the covering6|o is also preferably ground to have its outer surface concentric withthe axis of rotation of the shaft Mg. As indicated, it is preferable, ineach instance, to have the absorbent covers of the rollers 3|, 3 la, 3lb, 3 lo, 3|d, 3|e, 3|! and 3| g ground to have them concentric withtheir respective shafts.

It may be mentioned that in practice it has been found that the abovedescribed rollers comprising outer coverings of felt impregnated withlatex are exceedingly advantageous as there appears to be a relativelyhigh co-eflicient of friction between latex and paper so that the copysheets are fed accurately in each instance and perfect registry isobtained with the impression carried by the master sheet. Also, asindicated above, the latex is porous when dried and this characteristiccauses it to aid in removing excess solvent from the solvent applyingroller.

While I have shown and described certain embodiments of my invention, itis to be understood that it is capable of many modifications. Changes,therefore, in the construction and arrangement may be made withoutdeparting from the spirit and scope of the invention as disclosed in theappended claims, in which it is my intention to claim all noveltyinherent in my invention as broadly as permissible, in view of the priorart.

I claim:

1. In a roller for pressing a copy sheet against a cooperating drivenroller to which solvent is delivered for application to a copy sheetpassing between the rollers, the combination of a supporting shaft, anda facing of fibrous material on said shaft impregnated with latex andhaving its outer surface in the form of a cylinder in concentricposition on the shaft.

2. In a roller for pressing a copy sheet against a cooperating drivenroller to which solvent is delivered for application to a copy sheetpassing between the rollers, the combination of a supporting shaft, anda facing of felt on said shaft impregnated with latex and dried intoporous form with its outer surface normally cylindrical in concentricposition on the shaft.

3. In a roller for pressing a copy sheet against a cooperating drivenroller to which solvent is delivered for application to a copy sheetpassing between the rollers, the combination of a supporting shaft, anda facing of fibrous material on said shaft impregnated with an aqueousdispersion of rubber adapted upon drying to cause the facing to remainporous and absorbent and having its outer surface in the form of acylinder in concentric position on the shaft.

4. In a roller for pressing a copy sheet against a cooperating drivenroller to which solvent is delivered for application to a copy sheetpassing between the rollers, the combination of a supporting shaft, acore of rubber in the form of a cylinder on said shaft, and a facing offelt on said core impregnated with a rubber dispersion adapted upondrying to cause the felt to remain porous and absorbent and having itsouter surface in the form of a cylinder in concentric position on theshaft.

5. In a roller for pressing a copy sheet against a cooperating drivenroller to which solvent is delivered for application to a copy sheetpassing between the rollers, the combination of a supporting shaft, andan absorbent facing on said shaft of felted fibrous material impregnatedwith an aqueous rubber dispersion and having its outer surface groundinto the form of a cylinder in concentric position on the shaft.

6. In a roller for pressing a copy sheet against a cooperating drivenroller to which solvent is delivered for application to a copy sheetpassing between the rollers, the combination of a supporting shaft, anda facing of absorbent material on said shaft and impregnated with latexfor making its outer surface porous.

7. In a roller for pressing a copy sheet against a cooperating drivenroller to which solvent is delivered for application to a copy sheetpassing between the rollers, the combination of a core member in theform of a cylinder having depressions in its cylindrical surface, and acomparatively thin facing of felt impregnated with latex secured on saidcore about said depressions.

8. In a roller for-pressing a copy sheet against a. cooperating drivenroller to which solvent is delivered for application to a copy sheetpassing between the rollers, 'the combination of a core member in theform of a cylinder having depressions in its cylindrical surface,absorbent means in said depressions, and a facing of felt impregnatedwith latex secured on said core about said depressions.

9. In a roller for pressing a copy sheet against a cooperating roller towhich solvent is delivered for application to a copy sheet passingbetween the rollers, the combination of a core member in the form of acylinder, the surface of said cylinder comprising alternate portions ofrubber and of moisture absorbent material, and a facing of feltimpregnated with latex secured on said core overlying said surface.

10. In a roller for pressing a copy sheet against a cooperating rollerto which solvent is delivered for application to a copy sheet passingbetween the rollers, the combination of a supporting shaft, a core ofceramic material in the form of a cylinder on said shaft, and a facingof felt on said core impregnated with latex.

11. In a roller for pressing a copy sheet against a cooperating drivenroller to which solvent is delivered for application to a copy sheetpassing between the rollers, the combination of a core member in theform of a cylinder having depressions in its cylindrical surface, and acomparatively thin facing of felt impregnated with latex secured on saidcore about said depressions, said depressions being in the form ofgrooves disposed substantially circumferentially of said cylinder.

ROBERT F. MORRISON.

